EF TA's @ CEP Paris

[PM1]

News from Baldric @10.25 UK time : "All going fine. All boys through round 1".

Girls start after round 1 boys and so got a lie in - boys will have started 8 ish.

[Australian]

live results at www.fencingworldwide.com

[PM1]

.....but I get extra !!

(Thanks for the link Dave)
(and hope you had a good day yesterday - what gets you up so early??)

[Hungry Hippo]

Congratulations to Ayesha Fihosy for her 11th place in the Paris CEP Marathon, especially after coming through repechage!

Well done too, to Leah King, just below her in 11th, and to Steph Collister for her 17th place. L64's also for Alex Fitton (34), Lydia Stanier (40) and Olivia Keys (50).

Tougher for the boys this year after Alex Savin's triumph last year (All gunning for the Brits, I should think!), with only George Bailey in 61st cracking the 64.

Honourable mention also for the one Brit in the Cadets, with Phoebe Sudderick also making a 64 to finish in 55th place - all in all very encouraging for the future of GB Women's Foil.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Hungry Hippo

Congratulations to Ayesha Fihosy for her 11th place in the Paris CEP Marathon, especially after coming through repechage!

Ayesha actually came 10th which she was and still is very pleased with.

I would like to thank the Team Manager (Ray Stafford) and his deputies Mathew, Ismay, Eileen and Grace for a mission well accomplished.

Appreciation also goes to the coaches most especially Wojtek, who was on his1st trip and did an excellent first class job.

Thank you again One and All and roll on 2011!!

[ED_R]

Yes, many thanks to Ray and the other organisers for a really enjoyable and worthwhile trip.

[Baldric]

Another cracking bunch of kids and supportive parents!

Final placings boys (out of 363 starters):

Bailey George 61
Beardmore Alex 153
Bennett Freddie 263
Deamer Luke 103
Dunnill Oliver 294
Hadley James 152
Lloyd Alexander 92
McFarlane Tristan 174
Peck Harry 207
Rai Rajan 91
Wilson Alexander 121
Woollard Max 79

Final placings girls (out of 182 starters):

Cormack Eleanor 145
Fihosy Ayesha 10
Fitton Alexandra 34
Keys Olivia 50
King Leah 11
Martin Lorna 97
Mullins Chloe 135
Peker Cecilia 74
Rice Ella 147
Rich Elaria 117
Stanier Lydia 40
Sudderick Zoe 82

Great results for Ayesha and Leah, but don't forget that the point of this trip is not just to get results, but to give the younger fencers a feel for big european events, experiencing weapons control, working as part of a squad etc. Hopefully when they go on their first cadet trip, the culture shock won't be so great.

A million thanks to Eileen (assistant TM) Ismay, Matt, Robert, Steve, Wojtek and Grace for all their help.

The fencers all gave it a 100%, whether fencing, or supporting their squadmates. The red-and-white wall of sound behind the two English girls as they eliminated most of the Italian team had to be experienced to be believed.

Finally, a big thanks to all the parents who helped out with water, food, armoury, transalation etc. I won't name them for fear of missing one, but they were brilliant.

Ray

[Danum]

Must be mad but I'd go again, if asked, and ... I'd even take the same group of fencers

[Baldric]

Quick update - Jan & Alex Fitton (whose bag, money, passports etc) were stolen from Jan's hotel room, got home safely last night.

A timely reminder that hotel safes are there for a reason. I must remember to use them in future.

[pinkelephant]

The only time I've ever had anything stolen was in Paris - purse taken from my handbag at Gare du Nord. Poor Jan and Alex - it's the invasion of privacy that's upsetting as much as the pain in the backside of cancelling and replacing the lost documents & cards.

[Baldric]

Originally Posted by pinkelephant

it's the invasion of privacy that's upsetting as much as the pain in the backside of cancelling and replacing the lost documents & cards.

Particularly so in this case, since Jan was asleep in the room when the bag was stolen.

I just wish that the creepy b*st*rd had broken into the room with Steve Davey and Robert Kiss in, and they woke up and caught him.

[Danum]

Had a text from Jan saying the passports were still her bag but her purse and ipod had gone. The hotel apparently replaced the euros that had been taken.

[Australian]

I had my phone stolen from my hotel room while I was asleep at the Birmingham. Horrible experience.

[pinkelephant]

Originally Posted by Baldric

Particularly so in this case, since Jan was asleep in the room when the bag was stolen.

I just wish that the creepy b*st*rd had broken into the room with Steve Davey and Robert Kiss in, and they woke up and caught him.

I'd rather see anyone try it on Dave Sach. Or Lee Spiers.

[fenderstrat]

Originally Posted by Australian

I had my phone stolen from my hotel room while I was asleep at the Birmingham. Horrible experience.

Birmingham? Know what you mean.

[TomA]

I'd rather see anyone try it on Dave Sach. Or Lee Spiers.

I remember when someone tried to drag Lee out of bed in Tauber in the middle of the night, with predictable consequences...

[grizz]

Great trip, thanks Ray and co, all the fencers were a credit to us all. Grizz Jr had a great time, even if he was disappointed with his own performance. Hope middle Grizz Jr makes it next year.

It looked as if the cadet comp was quite strong this year, about 100 in the boys. What does everyone think about an EF u16 development trip to the cadet comp next year. I think Mrs Grizz would be willing to do the rankings for selection. I would be interested to hear some thoughts. This could be a "track suit event" without to much extra work or cost, especially if parents had to bring their own children and arrange transport and hotels etc.

Jed

[flickmum]

cool idea esp now you have a tame amourer to roll out when needed, he loves trundelling his trolley and loops out!!!!. it was a fabulous experience for us all and i think my little flicker learnt a lot ! i know he would be keen to go back next year

[tigger]

Also well done to Truro's 13-year-old Yvonne Chart. Though not selected for the TA trip, Yvonne entered and travelled independently from the official trip, and was placed 90th in her first foreign event.

[PM1]

Originally Posted by grizz

What does everyone think about an EF u16 development trip to the cadet comp next year. I think Mrs Grizz would be willing to do the rankings for selection. I would be interested to hear some thoughts. This could be a "track suit event" without to much extra work or cost, especially if parents had to bring their own children and arrange transport and hotels etc.

Jed

I'd happily discuss this idea more, BUT, if it's going to be a "track suit event", it will have to be run under EF procedures. Doesn't mean parents can't play their part or sort travel etc, but DOES depend what the reason for running such a trip is about/ aiming to achieve.

Let's shove it on the agenda to talk to our Youth Director about !!